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Thursday, June 06, 2013

Military Surrenders To Atheists At Mountain Home Air Force Base

Those serving our country at Mountain Home Air Force Base near Boise, Idaho were shown the power of "freedom" as administered by an atheist group this week. In this case it was a demonstration of the power of a few atheists. And it was freedom "from" religion, not exactly what our Founders had in mind.

Our Air Force men and women based there are often and regularly deployed to all parts of the world to defend our country and freedom.

However, sometimes the enemy within is the most destructive. And in this case it struck with lightening speed.

The anti-religion "Military Religious Freedom Foundation" (MRFF), who have called for the court martial of military personal for "proselytizing"---meaning sharing one's faith in Jesus Christ, have now made a demand on Mountain Home Air Force Base.

There is, well I should say "was," a painting in the Wagon Wheel dining room at the base that shows a modern day police officer standing in front of a medieval knight holding a flag that morphs from a medieval coat of arms to a flag of the United States of America.

The word "Integrity" is stenciled over the image and there is a reference to Matthew 5:9 which says, "Blessed are the peace makers for they will be called children of God."

The painting is now gone.

And the "Military Religious Freedom Foundation" is bragging, not about the fact that they got rid of the inspirational painting, but that they did so in less than 60 minutes.

Mikey Weinstein, president of MRFF, put out a press release boasting that he had called the Pentagon demanding the painting be removed and within the hour it was gone.

The far left Huffington Post ran this headline: "The Pentagon Most Certainly Is Listening To Mikey Weinstein."

Senior research director for the "Military Religious Freedom Foundation" (MRFF) and author of the book, "Liars For Jesus," Chris Rodda wrote in the Huff Post, "By the time Mike talked to the Wing Commander at the base a few minutes later, the Wing Commander had already been contacted by the Pentagon. Forty six minutes after his call to the Pentagon the image of the Crusader flag, with its odious melding of the Crusader flag with that of the American flag had been removed from the dining hall."

Members of Congress have written a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressing concerns about free religious expression.

At this moment, the Congressmen have not received a response.

Phillip Davis, a spokesperson for the Mountain Home Base, confirmed the painting was gone.

Davis told CNS News, "The commander was made aware of complaints about the picture in the morning and it was taken down in religious neutrality accordance."

Davis said the picture had never been a controversy in the past.

Rodda wrote in the Huff Post that Weinstein was acting on behalf of service members---most of whom she said are Christians.

She wrote, "This morning the MRFF was contacted by a non commissioned officer (NCO) from the Air Force Base who was acting as the spokesman for a group of twenty-two airman who wanted this repugnant piece of art work removed. Were these airman a bunch of militant atheists who seek to rid the military of all vestiges of religion? Well, no. Seventeen of the twenty-two are Christian, both Catholic and Protestant."

My concern is not the painting, but the pattern of assaulting the military on issues of religious freedom and the arrogance of the atheist group---and the access they have to the Pentagon.

And the hostile, anti-Christian environment that is being created by Mikey Weinstein and his atheist organization.

Back on May 13, 72 members of Congress sent a letter to Hagel expressing concern about a PowerPoint presentation the military was using for "equal opportunity" training. I wrote a blog about it.

The Congressmen pointed out that the presentation included "evangelical Christians, Catholics, Mormons, Sunni Muslims, and some Jews on a list of religious extremist groups like Al Qaeda and Hamas."

They also noted to Hagel that the Bibles had been removed from Walter Reed Army Hospital.

Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) has also been expressing concern about the pattern. He says, "Congress deliberately included religious freedom protections in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to address the pattern of hostilities and to protect the constitutionally guaranteed right of religious freedom for our service members and chaplains."

Lamborn has particularly expressed concern about President Obama's response to this assault on religious freedom.

When the President signed the NDAA into law, why did he particularly address this issue? He said the conscience protections were "unnecessary and ill-advised."

Why is further protection of our freedom of religious expression and matters of conscience "unnecessary or ill advised?"

Lamborn says, "This, coupled with the recent events, raises concerns that the military is developing a culture that is hostile to religion."

These further concerns have, again, been expressed to the Department of Defense. Those who expressed concern are waiting for a response from the Defense Department.

Our Founding Fathers made it abundantly clear that our freedoms come from God and that they can only be sustained by the practice of godly virtue, values and valor.

President Abraham Lincoln said our greatest vulnerabilities are not to a distant enemy, but from within.

The influence of Marcus Tullius Cicero, a lawyer, orator and politician during the final days of the Roman Empire cannot be overstated. After the death of Julius Caesar, he found himself in a power struggle and ultimately the enemy of Mark Anthony. After writing a number of articles advocating for a return to traditional republican government, he was deemed an enemy of the state and murdered.

This observation, made by Cicero as Rome collapsed, is one Americans should take to heart:

"A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear.”

Every enemy does not present himself as such. There is a growing pattern in our culture of lawlessness, fiscal irresponsibility, corruption and a defiance of God, who gave us our freedoms. This pattern, in the end, can destroy the greatest nation that has ever existed in the history of the world.

However, the God who gave us those freedoms, can also restore our nation.

Be Prayerful. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Informed. Be Active. Be Blessed.

And Buddha, and Allah, and Thor, and Zeus. It's not ironic, it's a natural defense when mythology adherents are constantly trying to push their particular gods into our lives and laws. If you stopped doing that, our interest in you would fall to just intellectual curiosity. Imagine.

I guess someone is pretty sensitive here . Because I do not recall pushing anything on you . The very basis the atheist here are allowed to put up such monuments is from a Constitution that was concerned about the FREE Choice of people . You think Atheist could do that in the Middle East ? In fact that is what is called a Judeo Christian , It is from the Old Testament and it is from the NT and how Paul and Jesus taught believers to behave . It was the morality of the Founders also . You don't have to be a believer to consider that a good thing , and an atheist and Christian can be on the same side when either group is not respected . I do not have to be an atheist to appreciate a non believer or someone with a different religion helping make the world a better place either .

Am. I am now suppose to compare you and put you in the same group of the atheist leftist Stalin type of governments that murdered millions in Europe and Asia last century ? Because that is what your doing . You honestly believe Christianity made this country worse ? I feel kind of fortunate for being an American . I think women , homosexuals , minorities , and all of us are better off for it . I know of no atheist founded countries that have done better , or for that matter I don't know of any atheist organizations ever even building a hospital ? . Really has more to do with morality , I don't want to offend atheist , or put them down . If it was not for God , I would be an atheist . ;0)

"I guess someone is pretty sensitive here . Because I do not recall pushing anything on you"

Really? Maybe not you, but all the other fanatics are. Just look at the picture of the poster at the top of the page. Mathew 5:9??? In a military facility? That's not forcing an individual religion on everyone there?

Didn't the religious right just force an election in Washington to keep others from having a marriage that doesn't conform to their narrow religion? Aren't they trying to force schools to teach mythological stories in science class? The list goes on. To repeat the point, we atheists discuss religion in direct proportion to your attempts to force it on us.

Well thanks anom for replying with civility . Perhaps a conversation here is possible . I see no problem with the picture , I could see an objection say if a picture was provided with the same quality and it was showing perhaps Gandhi , or Chief Seattle making a quote supporting his religion or non being not allowed ..

Not cure of mythological stories being asked to be taught in class , the bible certainly is not a science book . I have read some on Intelligent design , its not a religious dogma . Non Christians , even athesist are involved in the Intelligent Design side of Creation . But like all science today , especially I find on the left you get dogma like the Dawkins crowd getting involved in science . I know some scientists push random evolution and such , and of course there is no empirical evidence for that either . Truth is science does not prove God or dis prove . But science should exclude possibilities or suppress scientific evidence that suggests possibilities .

But to the debate here , would you not allow About 25 percent of the US Capital’s statuary which incorporates a religious message . Including the the statue of Father Junipero Serra” The Apostle of California” holding a Cross in his hands as well as Marcus Witman , a missionary carrying a Bible in his hand . a 14 by 20 foot painting of the baptism of Pocahontas is located in Capital Grounds , as well as Pilgrims at prayer and Christopher Columbus holding a Cross while praying with his crew . A stained Glass Window showing Washington seeking divine guidance is in the Congressional Chapel . A line from Psalm 16.1 is etched into the stained Glass.

“ In God we trust” is engraved in the Speakers rostrum . Moses is depicted in the House of Representatives . Our currency is engraved with the words “ In God We trust”

If Our Founders put religious statues , symbols and paintings in our most sacred places of government , how could any reasonably conclude that our Constitution dictates they be removed from our classrooms , courthouses and other public places ?

Oh yes I voted to preserve traditional marriage . Not against homosexuals getting married , I am against not allowing marriage to be used for supporting two genders to parent . I think that over rides the argument of one gender marriages . My view lost , and using religion was a mistake in the argument or debate . Besides some religions support same sex marriage and I could use your very argument of a narrow religious belief stopping kids , including gay kids from having a mom and dad in a civil marriage .

Anon, you do realize that "In god we trust" wasn't put there by our founding fathers, right? It wasn't used on our currency or podiums or in our anthems or anything like that until the 1950's. It was done specifically as an attack on atheism, because at the time we were fighting Russia, and wanted to distinguish ourselves from the "Godless Commies", so we had a major revision of what our country used to be and had religion forced down peoples throats in opposition to what our first amendment says. So when our nation uses government power to establish religion in the specific attempt to target those without religion, we have a right to say "Hey, we have a constitution, please uphold it, instead of forcing a religion". I think we should really go back to our national motto we'd had for so long, as our forefathers intended. E pluribus Unum. Out of many, one. We are many, those that do believe in one of so many religions we have here as well as those that don't. Our government should show preferential treatment to any, and we should all stand as equals, strong together.